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Stripe vs Wise (2026)

Which is cheaper for international payments? Stripe handles card payments brilliantly — Wise excels at cross-border bank transfers. Here's when to use each.

2.9%

Stripe intl card (USA + 1.5%)

0.4–2%

Wise transfer fee (varies)

~1–3%

Stripe FX markup

Feature	Stripe	Wise	Winner
Card payments	✅ Excellent	❌ Not supported	✓ Stripe
Bank transfers (intl)	Limited (Stripe Treasury)	✅ Core feature	✓ Wise
FX Rate	~1% markup	Mid-market rate	✓ Wise
Transfer fee (£1,000)	~3.4% + fixed	~0.4–1%	✓ Wise
Subscription billing	✅ Native	❌ Not supported	✓ Stripe
Checkout embed	✅ Full checkout	❌ Invoice only	✓ Stripe
Multi-currency account	Limited	✅ 40+ currencies	✓ Wise
Payout to freelancers	Via Stripe Connect	✅ Direct, cheap	✓ Wise
Setup complexity	Medium (API)	Simple	✓ Wise
Fraud protection	✅ Stripe Radar	Basic	✓ Stripe

TL;DR

Use Stripe for card payments. Use Wise for bank-to-bank transfers.

If your customers pay by credit card, Stripe is the right choice — Wise doesn't process card payments. If you're sending money internationally, paying overseas suppliers, or receiving large bank transfers from foreign clients, Wise is significantly cheaper due to its mid-market exchange rates and low transfer fees.

FAQ

Stripe vs Wise — Common Questions

No. Wise cannot replace Stripe for card-based online payments. Wise is a money transfer service — it's excellent for moving money between bank accounts internationally, but it can't process customer credit card payments on your website. Use Stripe for that.

Yes, significantly. Wise charges 0.4–2% on international transfers using the mid-market exchange rate. Stripe charges an additional 1–1.5% FX markup on top of their processing fee. For a $10,000 international transfer, Wise could save you $100–$150 compared to Stripe.

Many businesses do exactly this. Use Stripe to accept card payments from customers, then use Wise to pay overseas suppliers, contractors, or to hold multi-currency balances. They serve different purposes and complement each other well.